World War II It was constituted as the
64th Transport Group on 20 November 1940 and later activated on 4 December 1940. The group operated
Douglas C-47 aircraft for training and transport missions within the United States. Redesignated
64th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. Moved to England in August 1942 and received additional training. Became part of
Twelfth Air Force. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, November–December 1942. Flew first mission on 11 November, landing paratroops at
Maison Blanche Airport. Dropped paratroops to capture airfields during the battle for Tunisia. Released paratroops near
Gela and
Catania when the Allies invaded
Sicily in July 1943. Dropped paratroops near
Avellino during the invasion of
Italy in September 1943 to destroy a bridge on the enemy's supply line to
Salerno. Participated in the assault on southern France in August 1944 by releasing gliders and paratroops in the battle zone. Supported the partisans in northern Italy early in 1945 by dropping paratroops, supplies, and propaganda leaflets behind enemy lines. When not engaged in airborne combat operations, the group continually transported men and supplies to the front lines and evacuated wounded personnel. Most of the group was on detached service in the
China Burma India Theater from April–June 1944, while a remnant remained in Sicily. With its squadrons operating from separate bases in India, the group aided the Allied offensive in
Burma. It was awarded a
Distinguished Unit Citation for flying unarmed over rugged enemy territory to carry food, clothing, medical supplies, guns, ammunition, and mules to the combat zone and to evacuate wounded personnel. The group moved to
Trinidad in June 1945 and was assigned to Air Transport Command. Inactivated on 31 July 1945. Activated in the United States on 19 May 1947. Not manned during 1947–1948. Inactivated on 10 September 1948.
Cold War The 64th performed
airlift and
airdrop/airlanding of troops and cargo, routinely and during frequent maneuvers, 1952–1953. It began phasing down for inactivation in mid-October 1953, at which time tactical operations passed to 63d Troop Carrier Wing. In February 1954, however, the wing began building up again in preparation for an overseas movement, but was inactivated instead.
Flying training From the implementation of the Objective Wing organization until 1997, the group served as the flying arm of the
64th Flying Training Wing.
Expeditionary operations The 64 AEG/AEW operated out of Camp Snoopy at
Doha International Airport, Qatar from 1996 until 2004. In 2005, the group was activated for defense of personnel and assets in Southwest Asia. It provided force protection and support services for the installation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, known as
Eskan Village, replacing the former
320th Air Expeditionary Group. The group was made up of about 300 security forces, support airmen, and civilians in two squadrons: the 64th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the 64th Expeditionary Support Squadron. Their mission was to stand guard, provide integrated defense, emergency response, and combat support for the base, which housed military and host-nation tenant agencies. Operations were conducted in temperatures often exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In April 2020, the group was reactivated under the leadership of Air Force Colonel Adrian Byers. The group assisted the New York Health and Hospital Systems with medical duties during the
COVID-19 pandemic. The leadership cell functioned out of
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ with forward presence stationed at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York under the leadership of Deputy Commander, Lt Col Curt Hasse. The COVID response mission ended and the 64 AEG was once again inactivated in July 2021. ==Lineage==